Naseem Ashraf
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| Naseem Ashraf | |
 Dr. Nasim Ashraf at a Feeder School
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| Nationality | Pakistani |
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| Occupation | State Minister |
| Known for | Social studies work, human development, cricket |
| Organizations: | National Commission for Human Development | Pakistan Cricket Board |
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| Position: | Chairman | Chairman |
| Duration: | July 2002-Present | October 2006-Present |
Dr. Nasim Ashraf (Arabic: نسيم أشرف) is the Chairman of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) , Pakistan and a Minister of State. Prior to that, Ashraf served as the Team Leader for the President’s Task Force on Human Development in 2001.[1] He was also appointed as Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board by the President of Pakistan in October 2006.
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[edit] Career
Ashraf graduated with honors from Khyber Medical College Peshawar University, Pakistan in 1972, and remains a fellow of the American College of Physicians.[2] A community activist, he has been involved in development work for last 30 years. In 1998, while President of APPNA, the largest organization of Pakistani professionals in USA, he conceived, designed and implemented an innovative and highly successful model of primary health care to reduce disease and lower death rates in developing countries.[citation needed] This model, called APPNA SEHAT Village Improvement Program has been successfully carried out in rural Pakistan since 1989 and has reduced infant mortality and maternal mortality rates by 300% and currently serves nearly 200,000 people in 100 villages all over Pakistan. APPNA SEHAT has received international recognition and the model has won many awards, most recently, The Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award given by the American College of Physicians.[citation needed]
In 1997 Ashraf co-founded the Human Development Foundation of North America (HDFNA), an organization dedicated to the empowerment of people at the grass roots level in America as well as Pakistan.[citation needed] HDFNA has integrated human development grass roots projects serving 100,000 people in all four provinces of Pakistan. He has also served as Chairman of the Oregon Medical Association Public Health Education Committee and President of Douglas County Medical Society. He is a member of Amnesty International, The World Wildlife Fund and the End Hunger Campaign. He serves on various boards including The National Council of Islamic Affairs of America, Muslim Education Trust and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation.
He is the founding member and President of Pakistani Americans Public Affairs Committee (PAK-PAC), which works extensively with the U.S. Congress to promote issues of importance to Pakistani Americans. He was the Chair of Quaid Project, USA, and was the executive co-producer of the movie Jinnah, the first major international film on the life of the founder of Pakistan. Ashraf has published original studies in national and international medical journals, and lectured on human development issues at various international forums and meetings. Ashraf has appeared on CNN, FOX News, PBS, and Pakistan Television to advocate people-centered development and other issues relating to Pakistan In 1998 he set up relief camps in Kosovo and Albania for the victims of war. Ashraf brought Zahida Perveen, a victim of domestic violence and 'honour' crimes, to the USA for treatment and reconstructive surgery. He then established the Zahida Perveen Trust Fund for Zahida's continuing medical care and the education of her children. He has been featured in National Geographic Television for his efforts in this area.
Ashraf founded Americans for Peace and Justice in South Asia (APJSA) to work with the American think tanks, US Congress, and the media in particular for promotion of peace and conflict resolution in South Asia. APJSA has been instrumental in arranging visits of several Congressmen and Senators to Pakistan, holding seminars at prestigious US institutions such as the Georgetown School of International Affairs, creating a permanent fellowship for Pakistan Studies at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, and publication of articles supporting Pakistan’s view point in the New York Times and Washington Post. He was honored by the Institute of Overseas Pakistanis, which awarded him a Gold Medal in 1996 for services to the people of Pakistan. He is also recipient of the APPNA Gold Medal for his contributions towards promoting health care in rural Pakistan. In 1992, the South Douglas County Chamber of Commerce in Oregon, USA, adjudged him Citizen of the Year.
Ashraf was awarded “Star Man of The Year” in the field of Human Resources Management by South Asia Publications at the XIV Star Awards 2003. Recently he also received Gold Medal from Sohni Dharti for services to the people of Pakistan in the field of human development. The Khyber Medical College Alumni Association of North America awarded Ashraf the “Lifetime Achievement Award 2004”. He also received a Special Award from Fairfax County, Virginia, USA for promoting Asian American Harmony in 2000. Since 2001, he has been working as volunteer in Pakistan, heading the National Commission for Human Development.
[edit] Cricket career
Dr. Nasim Ashraf comes from a pioneering cricketing family of the NWFP. His maternal grandfather, Karim Baksh, played First-Class cricket in India and was one of the first elected members of the Pakistan Cricket Board in 1949. Dr. Ashraf had a very brief first-class cricket career, spanning just 3 matches for the Peshawar Cricket Association in the 1969-70 Quaid-e-Azam Cricket Trophy where as a middle-order batsman. He scored 50 runs, with a best of 21 and a duck on debut.[3]
He also played for the Pakistan Under 19 team which played against the English team in 1969. He was appointed as the Chairman PCB due to his vast management expertise. He was responsible for bringing about the Constitution of the Pakistan Cricket Board albeit after serious delays. The task was first entrusted to Shahrayar Khan who resigned and it is reported Nasim Ashraf delayed the completed constition being implemented because he wanted more powers for the Chairman. He repeatedly stated to the press that the legal vetting was taking longer than expected and it was out of his hands but this denied by the Office of the Attorney General and this has made Dr Nasim Ashraf's credibility greatly suffer[1]. The Attorney General has stated these allegations on the record and indicated that the draft constitution had been prepared during Shahrayar Khan's Chairmanship of the Board by the Constitution Committee but Dr. Nasim Ashraf delayed it for personal reasons which were largely malafide.
[edit] Submission and rejection of resignation
In March 2007, having been in the position for five months after he took over from Shaharyar Khan who stood down in October, Ashraf tendered his own resignation,[4] accepting responsibility for the Pakistan team's first round exit from the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies at the hands of young Irish Cricket Team. But his resignation was subsequently rejected by President Pervez Musharraf who was asked him to "continue his duty to rebuild the Pakistan cricket team on modern and professional lines".[5]
[edit] Other appointments and positions
- Team Leader, President of Pakistan’s Human Development, 2001
- Co-Chair Human Development Foundation of North America
- Chairman, Oregon Medical Association Public Health Committee, 1993
- Chairman, APPNA-SEHAT, 1989-1999
- President, PAK-PAC, 1990-1991, 1993-94
- President, Douglas County Medical Society, 1992
- President, Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America, 1987-1998
- Delegate, Oregon Medical Association, 1993-1996
- Director, International Association of American Physicians, 1988
- Member of Board, PAK-PAK, 1990-Present
- Member of Board, Islamic Center, Eugene, Oregon, 1982-1987
- Member of Board, Muslim Education Trust, Portland, Oregon
- Member APPNA Advisory Task Force to Ministry of Health,Government of Pakistan, 1982
[edit] Awards and Honors
- Conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz by President of Pakistan in 2006 for 30 years of distinguished public service.
- UNESCO INTERNATIONAL AWARD for Literacy in 2006.
- Awarded Gold Medal for the Most Outstanding Graduate of Khyber Medical College 1956-2004 on occasion of KMC’s Golden Jubilee.
- Lifetime Achievement Award by Khyber Medical College Alumni Association of North America. 2004.
- Gold Medal Award by Sohni Dharti 2004
- Star Man of the Year Award by South Asia Publications (SAP) - 2003
- Recipient of American College of Physicians Linda Rosenthal Award 2002
- Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award given by the American College of Physicians, 2002
- Special Award from Fairfax County, Virginia, USA for promoting Asian American Harmony. 2000
- Institute of Overseas Pakistani’s, Gold Medal Award, 1996
- WHO’S WHO IN AMERICA, 1994
- APPNA Gold Medal Award, 1993
- APPNA Presidential Award, 1986
- Khyber Medical College Dean’s Award for Service to Alma Mater, 1998
- South Douglas County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen Award, 1992
- Best Student of the School, St. Mary’s Cambridge School, Peshawar, 1965
- Merit Scholarship Recipient, Peshawar Board of Education, Pakistan, 1967
- Graduated with Honors Final M.B.B.S, 1972 (Fourth position in Class)
[edit] Professional societies
- American Medical Association
- Oregon Medical Association
- Douglas County Medical Society
- American College of Physicians
- Renal Physicians Association & American Society of Hypertension
- Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America
- Islamic Medical Association
- National Kidney Foundation
- PG County Medical Society
[edit] Publications and lectures
- July 26-29, 2002 - The 2002 Caux Dialogue “New Challenges for Muslims & Non-Muslims”
- April 26, 1998 - Columbia University, New York, NY “Human Development Policy Options for Pakistan in the 21st Century”
- March 7, 1998 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, “Role of Civil Society in Development”
- December, 1997 - AWAZ TV Program, Washington, DC, Panelist “Current Political Crisis in Pakistan”
- November, 1997 - AWAZ TV Program, Washington, DC, Annual Dinner chaired by Mr. Moeen Qureshi, former Prime Minister of Pakistan “Civic Responsibilities of Pakistani Americans”
- September, 1997 - Wake Forest, NC, American Institute of Pakistan Studies: 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Pakistan. AIPS – Panel discussion on “Jinnah” along with Prof. Akbar S. Ahmed and Chief Justice (retd.) Nasim Hassan Khan.
- July, 1997 - New York, NY, APPNA Annual Conference, “Human Development issues in Pakistan” Co-Chair of Symposium along with Dr. Mahbub ul Haq, former Finance Minister of Pakistan
- March, 1997 - George Washington University, Washington, D.C., Symposium on Occasion of Pakistan’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations “Participants of Young Pakistani Americans in the Political Process in America”
- October, 1996 - “Jinnah”, “What he means to Pakistani Americans.” Launch of the film Jinnah at Waldrof Astoria, New York, NY
- July, 1996 - APPNA SEHAT, Primary Health Care Model and Role of Civil Society in Development in Pakistan Institute of Overseas Pakistanis, Islamabad
- June, 1996 - Portland State University, Portland Oregon “Clash of Civilizations – Reality or Myth.” (MET Conference)
- July, 1995 - Dallas, TX, APPNA Annual Convention, “Geo Political role of Pakistan in South Asia”
- July 1994 - Istanbul, Turkey, International Conference on Health of IMA APPNA SEHAT Prime Health Care model for Developing Countries
- October, 1992 - “APPNA SEHAT”, What expatriate Pakistanis owe Pakistan, London, APPUKI
- May, 1992 - Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, Oregon, “Islam, Judaism & Christianity, the Common Link.”
[edit] References
- ^ Members' Profile Section, National Commission for Human Development
- ^ DNAProfile.
- ^ Profile: Dr. Naseem Ashraf. Cricinfo. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
- ^ Cricinfo staff. "Chairman, selectors offer resignations", Cricinfo.com, March 20, 2007.
- ^ Cricinfo staff. "Ashraf's resignation rejected", Cricinfo.com, March 30, 2007.
